Pole-climber.



J. B. CLARK. POLE CLIMBER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I7 l9l5.

LMYfiOQ. Patented July 20, 1915.

5141x214- foz JAMES BORDER CLARK, 0F MORGAN CITY, LOUISIANA.

IPOLE-CLIMBER.

mane.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1915.

Application filed may 17, 1915. Serial No. 28,678.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J AMES BononN CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Morgan City, in the parish of St. Mary and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pole- Climbers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled. in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in linemens equipment and more particularly to pole'climbers, the object of the invention being to improve upon the general construction of such devices now on the market, to such an extent as to prevent the shanks thereof from turning when in operation and chafing the legs of theuser. I

With this general object in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction hereinafter fully described and claimed, two embodiments of the invention being illustrated in the accompanying drawings which constitute a part of the application and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a climber constructed in accordance. with the invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal, sectional view as seen along the plane indicated by the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a verticaltransverse section as viewed along the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of'the u per end of a climber showing a slightly di erent form of construction.

In describing the invention, I shall refer first to that form disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3 of thedrawings by referring to such figures by similar reference characters placed on corresponding parts. To this end, l-indicate the upright shank of the climber having the usual prong 2 and foot stirrup 3 at its lower end, while its upper end is equipped with the commonly used strap receiving loop 4.

Secured by rivets or the like 5 to the upper end of the V shank 1 and in contact with the inner side thereof, is the substantially oval arcuate leg engaging plate 6 whose edges are preferably curved outwardly at 7,1

whereby to prevent injury to the clothing or limbs of a person using the de-- vice. The plate 6 is of such design as to substantially conform to the shape .,of the inner side of the users leg with which it contacts, but it is essential (see Fig. 2) that said plate extend forwardly to such an extent as to position its front end in advance of the users shin. This front end carries one or more hinge knuckles 8 which aline with similar construction 9 on the front end of an additional and smaller arcuate leg engaging plate 10 which is adapted to'contact with the muscles on the outer side of the leg when applied to use, a rivet or the like 11 being passed through the alined knuckles whereby to hingedly connect the same, thus allowing the plate 10 to be swung forwardly to inactive position, when the strap 12 is released. This strap 12 is received not only by the loop 4, but by additional loops 13 which are punched outwardly from the plate 6, and by an additional loop 14 formed in a similar manner upon the horizontally swinging plate 10, whereby said strap will be at all times correctly positioned for application to use for the pur ose of anchoring the upper end of the sham: 1, the lower end of the latter being provided with the usual strap 15. v

In Fig. 4, the construction illustrated is identical with that previously described, with the exception that the leg engaging plate 6 is formed as an integral part of the shank 1, this construction being equally as simple and eflicient as that derived by forming the shank and the plate in two separate parts and securing the same together. Regardless of the exact details of construction employed, however, it will be evident that the arcuate plate carried by the upper end of the shank and engaging the linemans le when applied to use, will prevent said shanE from turning or producing the undesirable effects caused by such shanks when provided with no pads or the likeiat their upper ends. If desired, the numerous plates may be padded with wool, leather, etc., but since this detail of construction is optional with the user, it is not deemed necessary to illustrate the same.

I claim 1. The combination with a climber comprising an upright shank having prong means and a foot stirrup at its lower end, of'an upright arouate leg engaging plate carried by the upper end of the shank, an additional and horizontally swinging leg engaging plate hinged to one end of the aforesaid plate, and a leg embracing strap ca rried by the two lates.

2. The combination with a climber com prising an upright shank having prong g uneee means and e foot stirrup at its lower eml,

of an' upright ercuate leg engaging ,leise carried by the upper end of the sham, an additional arcuate and horizontally swinging leg engaging plate hinged to one enol of the aforesaid plate, strep receiving loops on the two plates, and a leg embracing sheep passed through said loops.

l'n \bestimony whereof I heve hereimto my bend in presence of two SllbSCIibll'UZ Wii;- 10 essc'as JAMES BURDEN CLARK.

Wilmesses:

O. A. BLANCHARD, J. H. UNEIKL. 

